The Best 4K TV For Gaming 2021: Time To Level Up Your Screens

This year, the greatest gaming TVs you’ll find in the market are looking better than ever. Prices are gradually lowering, so now is an excellent time to treat yourself to a new screen upgrade. Newer models from major companies are on the way, so prices on current models will drop even further, saving you some costs. To help you out in which ones to pick, you’ll find below our top choices for the best 4K TV for gaming in 2021. Just keep on scrolling to find out more!

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Why Should You Get A 4K TV For Gaming?

Nowadays, the best 4K TVs for gaming in the market are becoming increasingly inexpensive, and we’re still a long way from recommending the exorbitantly priced 8K TVs. Of course, no one is stopping you from getting yourself an 8K TV if you have the budget but that will be out of this article’s content and is a discussion saved for another day.

Not to mention, if you’re in the market for a TV right now, there’s almost no excuse not to go with a 4K model. Almost every TV manufacturer and company are putting their best effort into 4K TVs, which are now available in nearly every size and price range. When it comes to gaming, several 4K TVs are excellent choices.

Benefits Of A 4K TV For Gaming

Your gaming setup will instantly be transformed into a cinematic paradise with the greatest gaming TVs on hand. In terms of fidelity, the best 4K TVs can even compete with the top gaming monitors in the industry. Slow response times on TVs are no longer an issue, especially on the top panels.

Aside from the razor-sharp images that are a major selling point for 4K TVs, many also boast quicker refresh rates, low-latency game modes, and HDR options that deliver spectacular imagery to really boost and level up your overall gaming experience.

Additionally, this list will include TVs for a variety of budgets, all of which are sure to make your game collection proud and stand out. It all depends on how many future-proofing features you require and, of course, the size of your new gaming television.

Regardless if you’re sticking with the current generation of consoles we have now today or seeking to upgrade in the future, the TVs listed here will surely withstand the newer consoles and still work as great. Even if your current hardware can’t readily handle 4K gaming, investing in a 4K TV for gaming will not only prepare you for the future, but you’ll also be able to watch and stream content in ultra-high definition.

What does 4K mean?

This is the maximum image resolution that your TV can show. A 4K TV or 4K ready TV is one that can display images in the resolution of 3840×2160 pixels. Some broadcasters and manufacturers also refer to it as UHD or Ultra HD. If you’re unaware, both the PS4 Pro and Xbox One X is capable of exporting a 4K feed to your 4K TV. Nowadays, almost every modern gaming television is 4K ready.

Our Top Recommendations Of The Best 4K TV For Gaming 2021

1. LG OLED C1 Series

Overview

In the OLED category, you can’t really get any better than the LG OLED C1 Series. But why is it so excellent that it takes the top spot on our list? Well, it’s ideal for gaming because it comes with a lot of functions and has an excellent visual quality that is sure to boost your gaming experience to the next level.

It comes in a variety of sizes, including a 48-inch model that you can probably squeeze in your gaming nook as a dedicated PC monitor. If you can’t really use your living room as your personal gaming space but still want a large ultra HD screen.

Not to mention, the C1’s OLED panels have a near-infinite contrast ratio that will give you impressive black levels, so blacks truly appear deep and inky, making them ideal for some darkroom gaming. On top of that, the C1 is also compatible with FreeSync and HDMI Forum variable refresh rate (VRR) technologies natively, as well as being able to support G-SYNC to eliminate screen tearing.

Because of the quick response time and reduced input lag, any type of motion ultimately appears crisp and smooth. If that’s not enough to convince you, the PS5 and Xbox Series X include four HDMI 2.1 inputs, so you should be able to play 4K games at 120 frames per second smoothly and without encountering any problem whatsoever.

Overall, the C1 takes gaming as seriously as you do, with four 4K 120Hz HDMI inputs and a dedicated Game Optimizer control panel. When you add in premium image quality, which relies more heavily on AI than we’ve seen before, it’s incredible, both in native 4K and up-scaled HD. This is an OLED worth admiring, with deep blacks, bright colors, and almost three-dimensional levels of detail.

Features & Specifications

• Dimensions: 57 x 9.9 x 33.9 inches
• Item Weight: 71.9 lbs.
• Brand: LG
• Sizes Available: 83″, 77″, 65″, 55″, and 48″
• Resolution: 4K
• Display Type: OLED
• Input Lag: 12.6ms (1080/60)
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz
• HDR Compatibility: Dolby Vision , HDR10, HLG
• Inputs: HDMI 2.1
• VRR: Yes

Check Out Our Full Review Of The LG OLED C1 Series Here.

Rating: 9.5 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The LG OLED C1 Series?

2. Samsung QN90A

Overview

When it comes to 4k gaming televisions with QLED panels, the Samsung QN90A QLED is impossible to beat. Unlike OLED TVs like the C1 from LG, QLED TVs like this one do not suffer from irreversible burn-in, so you may use it for PC gaming without ever having to worry about static ruining your screen.

The Samsung QN90A comes in a variety of sizes, all of which should perform similarly no matter which sizes you choose, with the exception of the 43-inch model, which lacks VRR and is limited to a 60Hz panel.

Apart from that, the QN90A also includes one HDMI 2.1 input, allowing you to fully utilize the capabilities of new generation consoles such as the Xbox Series X and PS5. This television also comes with one of Samsung’s One Connect Boxes, which connects to the set through a fiber optic cable and allows for four HDMI 2.1 connections, ensuring that anyone with a multi-gaming device setup is well catered for.

Tizen, Samsung’s smart TV platform, provides smart connectivity and a wide selection of apps, including Netflix, Prime Video, Apple TV+, Disney+, and Now, as well as all the standard catch-up TV services.

However, the Samsung QN90A does offer a really fast response time for smooth motion, and the little input lag makes gaming feel immediate and very responsive. To reduce screen tearing, it also offers both FreeSync and G-SYNC compatibility.

All in all, image quality on the QN90A is excellent, due to an innovative AI-powered Neo Quantum 4K CPU, and its Intelligent Mode optimizes all sources, making it a comfortable screen to watch whatever you choose.

Features & Specifications

• Dimensions: ‎9.3 x 48.3 x 30.3 inches
• Item Weight: ‎48.3 pounds
• Brand: Samsung
• Sizes Available: 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″, 75″, and 85″
• Resolution: 4K
• Display Type: Neo QLED (Mini LED)
• Input Lag: 10.1ms (1080/60)
• Refresh Rate: 120Hz
• HDR Compatibility: Dolby Vision, HDR10, HLG
• Inputs: HDMI 2.1
• VRR: Yes.
• Extra Special Features: ‎Quantum Matrix Technology; Neo Quantum Processor 4K; Quantum HDR 32X, Object Tracking Sound+; Motion Xcelerator Turbo+

Check Out Our Full Review Of The Samsung QN90A Here.

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The Samsung QN90A Series?

3. LG CX OLED

Overview

If you’re planning on purchasing a PS5 or Xbox Series X soon or already have these consoles sitting in your living room, the LG CX OLED TVs are the best next-gen alternative, thanks to a stunning 4K display that runs at a scorching 120Hz. Thanks to Nvidia G-Sync support, it’s also pretty excellent for PC gaming. Though if you’re eyeing the 65-inch model, you might want to invest in a sturdier gaming desk.

Because LG’s class-leading OLED TV has a 120Hz refresh rate, it’s ideal for fast-paced 4K gaming like first-person shooters and racing games, where screen tearing is a thing of the past. As you’d expect from OLED technology, the black levels are incredible, and LG has nailed it with a design that sees the CX line totally turn off individual pixels when used in the darkest settings.

We’re used to most OLED TVs being out of reach and way too expensive for the general public, but the LG CX OLED’s price ranges are shockingly reasonable given all of the accolades they’ve received since their release. We believe the 55-inch model hits the sweet spot of pricing while also being a good size for most houses. You can’t get any better value than that.

Features & Specifications

• Dimensions: ‎48.35 x 1.85 x 27.8 inches
• Item Weight: ‎50.7 pounds
• Brand: LG
• Sizes Available: 77″, 65″, 55″, and 48″
• Resolution: 4K
• Display Type: OLED
• Input Lag: 13ms
• Refresh Rate: 120 Hz
• HDR Compatibility: HDR10, Dolby Vision, HLG
• Inputs: HDMI 2.1
• VRR: Yes

Rating: 9 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The LG CX OLED?

4. Vizio M-Series Quantum (2021)

Overview

Hands down, the Vizio M-series Quantum 2021 model is the best budget-friendly 4k gaming TV you’ll ever come across. It’s a fantastic gaming TV, and while it’s a little more expensive than a few other affordable 4K TVs in the market, it comes with gaming features that most gamers will surely appreciate. It’s well-made and comes in a variety of sizes and all models within different size variants are sure to perform similarly.

The Vizio M-series Quantum is also one of the few budget-friendly TVs that supports VRR via FreeSync. However, do keep in mind that it doesn’t support G-Sync. It has a pretty fast response time for smooth transitions, but it does seem to have a poor response time with dark transitions, so some black smearing might occur. When it comes to responsive gaming, input lag is also quite low.

The Vizio M-series Quantum also supports Dolby Vision and HDR10+. And while it produces deep blacks, its local dimming feature isn’t the most impressive out of the bunch, and it doesn’t get bright enough in HDR to make highlights truly shine.

It’s also not the ideal choice for gaming in brightly illuminated areas, as its peak brightness and reflection management are pretty subpar. Despite that, it’s still a really solid 4K TV for gaming if you don’t mind the compromises made to make this model affordable.

Features & Specifications

• Dimensions: ‎48.35 x 10.9 x 29.26 inches
• Item Weight: 31.3 lbs.
• Brand: Vizio
• Sizes Available: 50″, 55″, 58″, 65″, 70″, and 75″
• Resolution: 4K
• Display Type: LED
• Input Lag: 12.9 ms
• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz.
• HDR Compatibility:
• Inputs: HDMI 2.1
• VRR: Yes
• Extra Special Features: ‎Cinemawide Black Bar Detection, AMD FreeSync Certified, 27 Local Dimming Zones, IQ Active Display Processor, HDMI Variable Refresh Rate

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The Vizio M-Series Quantum (2021) ED C1 Series?

5. Hisense 50A6G

Overview

This new entry-level 4K HDR display from Hisense is well worth considering if you’re looking at the affordable end of the best gaming TV spectrum. Just like the other 4K televisions in our list, this also comes in a variety of screen sizes ranging from small to huge.

With a narrow bezel and spaced-out feet, the design is pretty on point. On the back, there are three HDMIs with ALLM (Auto Low Latency Mode) and VRR (Variable Refresh Rate) support, as well as eARC. There’s no support for 4k 120Hz, but then again, this seems to be the case with budget-friendly 4K TVs. However, Hisense does promise an input lag of fewer than 20 milliseconds.

When it comes to overall image quality, the results are quite outstanding actually, providing excellent fine detail and adequate dynamics. Dolby Vision is also quite helpful, as it allows the screen to shine with Dolby Vision shows.

If you’re from the UK or you’re getting a UK variant of the Hisense 50A6G, the model will come with a Vidaa smart platform, as well as Freeview Play, which means a good variety of streaming and catch-up players in the UK. On the other hand, if you’re from the US or getting a US variant, you’ll get an Android TV with Chromecast built-in. I’ll let you decide which one is more ideal for your needs.

Features & Specifications

• Dimensions: ‎44 x 2.9 x 25.4 inches
• Item Weight: 21.6 lbs.
• Brand: Hisense
• Sizes Available: 43″, 50″, 55″, 65″ and 75″
• Resolution: 4K
• Display Type: LED
• Input Lag: 48.2ms (1080/60)
• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
• HDR Compatibility: HDR10, HLG, Dolby Vision
• Inputs: HDMI 2.1
• VRR: Yes

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The Hisense 50A6G?

6. Samsung TU-7000 Series

Overview

It’s quite difficult to argue with the reasoning behind buying the Samsung TU-7000. I mean, what more can you ask for? You can easily use it in 4K at 60Hz, which makes it ideal for both gaming and streaming, it offers a wide range of different screen sizes to choose from, plus all the streaming and smart apps you’ll ever need, all for a ridiculously low price. Without a doubt, this is one of the best gaming 4K TVs you can get your hands on in the market.

The Samsung TU-7000 features amazing color quality which includes particularly deep blacks thanks to a high contrast ratio, decent sound, and a fantastic feature called automatic console detection, which immediately switches the display from movie mode to game mode as soon as you turn on your console.

If you navigate to your console from the source menu, it will switch on immediately. Personally, I find this a neat little function that saves you a lot of time when navigating with a somewhat complicated remote. But despite the clunky remote, the user interface is pretty simple to browse, making switching between game consoles and Samsung TV apps a breeze.

When it comes to overall image quality, the results are as you expected. They’re excellent, boasting a high contrast ratio and excellent black uniformity. However, this particular model only features two HDMI connections, which means that if you have more than one gaming console, you’ll need to use a splitter or manually unplug the other to make room for another console.

Overall, the Samsung TU-7000 is a superb 4K television for the money and one that’s especially appealing to gamers due to its low input lag, deep blacks, and excellent contrast ratio.

Features & Specifications

• Dimensions: 2.4 x 48.4 x 27.8 inches
• Item Weight: ‎30.6 pounds
• Brand: Samsung
• Sizes Available: 75″, 70″, 65″, 58″, 55″, 50″, and 43″
• Resolution: 4K
• Display Type: LED
• Input Lag: 9.5ms
• Refresh Rate: 60 Hz.
• HDR Compatibility: HDR10+, HLG
• Inputs: HDMI – 2, USB, Ethernet (LAN), RF In (Terrestrial/Cable Input), RF In (Satellite/Cable Input), and Digital Audio Out (Optical)
• VRR: Yes.
• Extra Special Features: ‎Smart TV Powered by Tizen; HDR; Crystal UHD Technology Powered by the Crystal Processor 4K; Dolby Digital Plus

Rating: 8.5 out of 10.

Where Can I Buy The Samsung TU-7000 Series?

Before You Buy

Now that we have finished discussing our list of the best 4K TV for gaming this 2021, here are some terms and specs you might want to consider and keep in mind as you shop for your next ultra HD screen.

Color accuracy, contrast, color gamut, viewing angles, battery utilization, screen reflections, smart TV capabilities, and more are all factors to consider when selecting the finest 4K TV for gaming. However, because we’re all here to play games, having a built-in “gaming mode” with minimal input latency and input lag is pretty much essential.

Let’s Talk About Screens: OLED, LED, and QLED

As you go shopping, you’ll come across different types of TVs in your hunt for the finest 4K TV for gaming: OLED, LED, and the most recent type, QLED. While they may share similarities in their names, they couldn’t be any more different and distinct in terms of panel technology.

LED

The final image you see is created by independent image producing and lighting layers on LCD/LED panels. The backlight (LED) illuminates the pixels (LCD), which generate the actual images you see in this interaction. TV makers have introduced fully array backlighting systems, which break the backlighting layer into zones known as “local dimming zones,” to reach the same level of true black as LED televisions.

When you see this characteristic, keep in mind that the more local dimming zones a television has, the better. On the other hand, LED TVs can achieve significantly higher peak brightness levels, but they have narrower viewing angles and muddier blacks since the display can’t completely switch off its backlight the way an OLED screen can.

OLED

Organic Light Emitting Diode or more commonly known as OLED is another form of TV panel that is categorized as an emissive screen technology. In general, LCD and plasma panels require back-lighting or edge-lighting to create images on the screen, whereas OLED screens do not. The LEDs in the panel of backlit or edge-lit TVs are lighted in groups or lines to form a picture.

This implies that the pixels in an OLED panel generate their own light by producing their compounds with an electric current. Because the pixels on an OLED TV produce both the picture and their own light, they may achieve true black without any current through them. Basically, there is no light if there is no energy.

To create a picture on OLED TVs, each LED on the screen can be individually lighted and switched on or off. This is what allows OLED televisions to have truer blacks. Because there is no illumination shining through, you get fine edges on images and deep blacks with the ability to entirely turn off each individual LED.

Apart from that, OLED displays are often dimmer than LCDs, and picture retention (also known as burn-in) issues can occur every once in a while. This problem happens when static items on the screen, such as a network logo or a health bar, become imprinted on the screen either temporarily or permanently.

QLED

Samsung developed QLED panels and is a technology of their own. Quantum Dot Light Emitting Diode is the complete abbreviation for QLED. Quantum dots are light-emitting particles that can be substantially brighter than LEDs or QLEDs when used to generate a picture on a screen. As a result, QLED televisions have brighter colors and stronger contrasts than other panel types.

Like regular 4K TVs, the panel is either backlit or edge-lit, which can make a big difference when it comes to black levels. Back-lit QLEDs can generate clear images and blacks that rival even the most premium OLEDs in the market, in addition to delivering vibrant colors. Essentially, these QLED TVs have an extra layer of quantum dots on the back that boosts the brightness and color spectrum of standard LED screens.

Quantum dots, in this way, function as an enhancement filter, producing brighter and purer light than LED panels. This is why Samsung TVs with QLED panels can achieve peak brightness levels that are sometimes a thousand or several thousand nits brighter than OLED panels in the industry. As a result, they’re perfect and ideal for your living room gaming.

HDR

The term HDR stands for High Dynamic Range. HDR is a technique that processes colors in games, movies, TV shows, and any streaming content. This has also become standard on almost all of the 4K TVs you might come across.

However, HDR isn’t just about contrast. It’s also about highlighting the differences between colors (and blacks), and it may be used by game designers and developers to bring out more details in their work. HDR is mostly used to enhance the color of a photograph by making colors more vibrant and thereby increasing contrast.

You can make visuals a lot crisper and the colors pop if you can differentiate extremely similar tones of color. A brightness of 400 nits is the minimum requirement for HDR. Though higher brightness can be achieved in 4K TVs in more recent years. Overall, having HDR capabilities is a significant improvement in picture quality and one of the most appealing features of 4K TVs. It is, however, a little complex.

Today’s 4K TVs support two major HDR standards: HDR10 and Dolby Vision. HDR10 is supported by the majority of 4K TVs in the market that support HDR. Meanwhile, Dolby Vision is only supported by a select handful of much higher-end TVs. When it comes to gaming, HDR10 is all you need and should require. In fact, the PS4, PS4 Pro, Xbox One S, and Xbox One X can all support HDR10.

A Dolby Vision TV is only really useful if you have a standalone 4K Blu-Ray player or a streaming media box that supports Dolby Vision. But it will not allow you to play HDR games on your chosen console.

Response Time

When it comes to 4K gaming televisions, you’ll hear a lot and often come across about a panel’s response time. This is the rate at which colors on your television can change, like from black to white and to black again. Unless you’re very specific and need fast response times for your games, most 4K TVs have response times faster than we can perceive. Therefore it makes no significant impact on your overall gaming experience unless it’s really needed. Gaming purists, on the other hand, will want the fastest response time possible on their hands.

Refresh Rate

This is the rate at which an image on your TV can be refreshed. Keep in mind that this is not to be confused with response times.

In general, most TVs can only support 60Hz – 120Hz. As of the moment, no 4K TV has higher refresh rates than that. If you’re aiming for 144Hz or even 240Hz, you might want to look into dedicated 4K gaming monitors instead.

A 4K TV with a 60Hz of refresh rate, for example, refreshes the image on the screen 60 times per second, allowing for a certain level of smoothness. Moreover, the image will be twice as smooth if the TV refreshes at 120Hz, and you can tell by how slick and smooth the motion seems on screen.

Nowadays, many TVs’ game modes would artificially increase their refresh rates by degrading other display settings such as reducing the brightness of your picture. So try to keep an eye out on those types of 4K TVs.

HDMI

This is the common connection cord between your 4K TV and most devices you’ll be connecting it to. HDMI stands for High Definition Multimedia Interface. A 4K signal requires at least an HDMI 1.4 cable, while most recent HDMIs are 2.0 connections that can transport 4K signals at 60 frames per second.

Because the bulk of recent console games don’t support 4K at 60fps, you’ll be pretty much alright as long as you have a 2.0 cable and a 2.0 port on your TV. On top of that, there are only really two types of HDMI cables: standard speed and high speed. You should be fine as long as you have a High-Speed cable.

That isn’t to say that all cables are created equal, but you shouldn’t have to spend a lot more than necessary. To put it simply, you don’t need to waste a lot of money on gold-plated HDMI cables to obtain a good picture outside of aesthetic preferences. Any standard High-Speed cable should work fine and perfectly.

Conclusion

Overall, each 4K TV listed above comes with its set of advantages and disadvantages as well as its own perks and setbacks. Not to mention, certain gaming televisions may also be better suited to one console over another, depending on which you’re using. But whichever you ultimately choose, I hope our list of top recommendations gave you an idea of which 4K gaming TV will suit you best.

Have you already bought your own 4K TV for gaming? Did your pick make it into our list? Let me know in the comments section below if you have any suggestions, insights, or questions to ask. I would love to hear all your thoughts!

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